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Tag: Samson Siasia

  • World Cup: Messi ‘woeful’ only plays well against Eagles – Siasia

    Samson Siasia, former Super Eagles’ Coach- could not hide his feelings about Lionel Messi, following the Argentine’s unimpressive outing in the ongoing World Cup in Russia.

    Though Messi did score against Nigeria leading to the three-time Africa Champion’s ouster, but that did not tickle the fancy of the former Nigerian international.

    “…he has not been spectacular for me. He only played well against Nigeria. In this tournament,  I will score him below average. Though he is an inspiration for his team but that was not enough to make him go far in this world Cup,” Siasia said on Super Sport.

    Messi- arguably world best- was shown the exit door from Russia on Saturday following his team’s 4-3 defeat by France.

    In Saturday’s seven goals thriller, the 33-year old only had an assist to his credit but 19-year-old France ace, Kylian Mbappe stood tall on the spotlight scoring two of the goals in the 64th and 68th minutes respectively.

    Messi failed to improve his goal drought in the battle of Kazan as the Barcelona forward could only manage to get an assist in the 90 minutes encounter.

    France international Mbappe stole the show with two goals and also won the opening penalty that Griezmann stuck away.

    Argentina was 2-1 up at one stage with goals from Di Maria (a thunderbolt) and Mercado.

    France however came to the party with a stunning strike from Pavard and Mbappe’s double. Aguero set up a grandstand finish but Messi and his teammates failed in their bid to find a late equaliser.

  • 24 Hours to Kickoff: Goalkeeping dept worries Siasia

     

    Just 24 hours to the kick off  of the World Cup in Russia and three  days to Super Eagles first match against Croatia, former international Samson Siasia is hoping and praying that nothing happens to young goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.

    The former Super Eagles coach faulted Coach Gernot Rohr decision to use only the Deportivo La Coruña goalkeeper in all the friendly matches ahead of the World cup rather than put all the keepers to the test, and wondered what would happen if anything happens to the 19 year old former Aspire Academy safe hand who incidentally did not feature during the qualifiers.

    “When you use same goalkeeper for all the friendly matches what happens if such a goalkeeper gets injured?” he asked

    Siasia, a member of the impressive 1994 squad to the World cup in USA, however described the Nigerian side as one that is not predictable but capable of springing a surprise on a good day.

    “If the likes of Victor Moses choose to play their game anything can happen,” he said while contributing to countdown to the world cup Tuesday on Supersports.

    On the play pattern he thinks can produce the needed result for the highly fashionable Super Eagles team, Siasia noted that there is need for the efforts of Captain John Obi Mikel to be adequately complimented by Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa on both wings.

    “Mikel right now may not be as fast as he should but with Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses on both wings you can be sure to get it right because these guys can run,” he submitted

    The former U-23 and 20 Coach however added that the back line needs to Work better together.  “They have to know when to move forward and when to return it is very important,” he said 

    Most analysts agree that it is important get a good result in the first match against Croatia on Saturday to serve as a morale booster; they nonetheless agree that the match will not a tea party for either side.

  • Football: Okocha is Nigeria’s greatest – Crespo

    Argentina ex-international Hernán Jorge Crespo, on Saturday in Lagos said that he was delighted to be in Nigeria for the first time as a guest of the Heineken Group.

    Crespo along with Nigeria’s ex-internationals — Taribo West, Augustine Eguavon, Mutiu Adepoju and Samson Siasia — were invited by Heineken for an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.

    Crespo attributed the success of his over 18 years football career to respect for others which, he said, was one of the fundamental values of life.

    “As a young player, I love the game of football but one fundamental thing I learnt along the way was respect for the game, my team mates and fans of football.

    “As I grew older in football, I also learnt that it was very important to respect my opponents as well; indeed, it has been a worthwhile experience for me.

    “I am in Nigeria because I want to have the opportunity to meet people, to support my passion and most importantly support Heineken and their vision for the UEFA Champions League,’’ He said.

    Crespo said that he would never forget playing against Nigeria’s ex-internationals, especially against hard tackling Taribo West and Celestine Babayaro, who were his team mates at Inter Milan and Chelsea, respectively.

    “In my career I met a lot of players I had respect for and I would never forget players like West, Babayaro, Emmanuel Amunike, Daniel Amokachie, Sunday Oliseh and Geoge Finidi.

    “However I think the greatest player so far in Nigeria was Austin Okocha,’’ he said.

    Similarly, his counterparts from Nigeria, West, Siasia, Eguaveon, Adepoju, eulogised Crespo’s perfection and credibility as a great football legend and appreciated his coming to Nigeria.

    With over 300 goals during his career, Crespo was regarded as one of the deadliest striker ever in the history of European and World football.

    He played for Argentinian club side River Plate and Italian sides such as Parma, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Genoa and Lazio.

    He won the 2005 English Premiership League title with Chelsea FC of England, among other laurels.

    While in Nigeria, Crespo watched Heineken-sponsored UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool with Lagos fans on Saturday.

  • Siasia explains his love for Mikel Obi

    Siasia explains his love for Mikel Obi

    Former Super Eagles handler and ex-international, Samson Siasia on Thursday said that there was nothing special in his love for the Super Eagles Captain, Mikel Obi.

    Siasia made the assertion when he spoke with our reporter on the reason for his preference for Obi who he took to the 2016 Olympics and returned with a silver.

    “There is nothing special between me and Obi; it’s only that I so much like him as a player. You can’t take it away from him that he is one of the greatest exports of Nigerian football.

    “Obi started playing for top clubs at an early stage in his life and has won virtually everything he wants and above all, he is a good and committed player.

    “You can also see his contributions to the national team, so, who will not like such a player. He is a fantastic lad and always playing at the top.

    “If you have such a player in your team, then, you can have the compliments of others, to me he is a great export and an ambassador,’’ he said.

    He said Obi had done creditably well both at the club level and the national team.

    Siasia had once said Obi was a player at par with Real Madrid ace midfielder, Luka Modric and other best midfielder in the world.

    Read Also: Siasia: From Bayelsa governorship race to national stage

    Mikel represented Nigeria in the U-20 at the FIFA World Youth Championship and won the silver ball behind Lionel Messi and made his debut for the national team on Aug. 17, 2005.

    Mikel was, however, called to represent the U-23 team by Siasia for the last Olympic qualifier in a must win match but failed to show up, this led the coach to axe him from the team.

    The dependable defensive midfielder, however, got his chance to play in the Olympics as a captain in Brazil, winning the bronze medal after defeating Honduras 3-2.

    Mikel was also named Chelsea “Young Player of the Year’’ in 2007 and 2008, and he was African “Young Player of the Year’’ in 2005 and 2006.

  • Kanu, El-Hadji Diouf, Apiah, Amokachi , others to light up Kano

    Kanu, El-Hadji Diouf, Apiah, Amokachi , others to light up Kano

    African football legends are billed to light up the ancient city  of Kano on December 14 in a novelty match against Kano Pillars.
    According to the General Coordinator,Moo Mohammed Mustapha, he listed the  ex-international footballers who will feature in the match to include former Super Eagles and two-time African Footballer of the Year, Kanu Nwankwo, El-Hadji Diouf of Senegal, Steven Apiah of Ghana, Mohammed Kalou of Sierra-leone.
    Others include Fabian Makati of South Africa, Samson Siasia, Tijani Babangida, Lukas Kadiebe of South Africa, Garba Lawal, Mutiu Adepoju, Peter Rufai, Daniel Amokachi and the host of others.
    However, Kanu Nwankwo who was present at the Press Conference in the company of Diouf appealed to the Federal Government and state governments to pick interest in the December 14 football match, designed to help the IDPs.
    “We have to do this for the IDPs because people talk about and forget about them. We call on the Federal Government, state governors, corporate organizations, wealthy individuals and Nigerians in the Diaspora to respond positively to this clarion call.
    “We should make sure that we all play a role. We want the Federal Government and the state governments to be part of this. This is a very big statement and we have to do it. This game is very important to Nigeria. It is important to raise the hope of the IDPs. We have to come to their rescue,” he stated.
    The tourney is  designed to drum up support for a fund-raising to assist the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.
    Meanwhile, the chairperson of the MATCH4IDPS Local Organizing Committee, Abi Goodman, the event is a charity game to raise awareness for the need to help IDPs who are victims of Boko Haram insurgency and others who are in camps across the country over one problem or the other.
    Goodman who addressed sportswriters during a pre-match press conference to create awareness for the event said, “we are here to introduce a charity and the purpose is to use the opportunity to raise awareness on the situation going on in IDP camps across Nigeria.
    “The match is designed to kick-start campaign to raise fund for the IDPs. The Match is between African football legends and Kano Pillars football club.
    It will hold at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on the 14th of December, 2017.”
    According to her, the event became necessary to help IPDs, adding that donor agencies such as the United Nations, UNICEF and other Non Governmental Organizations have run out fund, “and there is need to use other avenues such as football to attract donors to help and support our brothers and sisters who are practically suffering in the IDPs across Nigeria.”

  • FG to engage Niger Delta ex-agitators in sports activities

    The Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, said engaging ex-agitators in sports activities would offer many opportunities that would develop their spirit of volunteerism and patriotism.

    Boroh disclosed this in Uyo on Sunday during a meeting with the SIA’one Soccer Academy to reintegrate some ex-agitators and youths in the Niger Delta region.

    He said sport is one of the most important facets of Niger Delta culture and community, arguing that few activities affect the emotions and develop sports in the region.

    “Sports is a language that everyone can understand.

    ” Sports is important for healthy living, personal development and social bonding. Sports is also a leisure activity that all can enjoy.

    “It keeps us physically fit, builds character, and bonds family and friends.

    “At its best, sports can bring people together, no matter what our race, background, or economic status.

    “This is why we want to give our beneficiaries the opportunity to experience sports and live better through sports, whether as a professional sportsperson, amateur player, spectator or volunteer, ” he said.

    He said when Nigerians do take part in sports, “we see more of them doing so individually, for example, jogging, swimming or going to the gym, rather than friends or family.”

    The Coordinator stressed the need to encourage a sporting lifestyle, not just for individuals, but also our communities.

    According to him, the programme has two broad strategies.

    “The first strategy is to enhance our public sports facilities in the Niger Delta region.

    “This is crucial to meeting the sporting and fitness needs of the region,” he said.
    Boroh said when youths chose basketball, Football and volleyball as a professional career, it never occurred to them that they would have impact on young people’s lives and earn living.

    The Coordinator said this initiative shows what the office hope to achieve through sports building on this experience, by engaging beneficiaries of the programme in different kinds of sporting activities.

    In his remark, the Coordinator of SIA’one, Mr Samson Siasia acknowledged that the Amnesty office under Boroh is coming out with such a brilliant initiative to engage the ex-agitators and youths of the region in sports.

    While commending the Coordinator for his interest in sports development in the region, Siasia also noted that it is only sports that can bail the region out of pipelines vandalism, if sizeable percentage of security votes are invested in the sector.

    “The youths are the future, hope and custodian of our tomorrow,” he said.
    Siasia said no wonder the Coordinator of PAP discovered this secret to success and decided to consider a worthy partner to invest in sports.
    Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mr Sunday Essien from Cross River thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for such initiative and promised not to defeat the aim of the policy.

    Essien said youths like them would no longer be exposed to vandalism and crime in the region and
pleaded for the Federal Government continuous supports.

  • Broos, Siasia apply for Bafana Bafana job

    Broos, Siasia apply for Bafana Bafana job

    Cameroon’s coach Hugo Broos has applied to coach South Africa, just days after winning the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.

    The Belgian, who coached the Indomitable Lions to victory about 11 days ago, is one of over 60 applicants for the job.

    Several big names have applied, including Italians Roberto Mancini and Giovanni Trapattoni as well as Germans Lothas Matthaus and Bernd Schuster.

    Hassan Shehata, who led Egypt to three Nations Cup titles, and former Super Eagles’ coach Samson Siasia are also on the list.

    The names of the coaches were revealed by the South African Football Association (SAFA) on Thursday.

    SAFA also revealed that former internationals Lucas Radebe and Benni McCarthy would form part of the committee to find the new national coach.

    Radebe was a long-standing captain of Bafana Bafana while McCarthy, who has just completed his UEFA Pro A coaching licence, is South Africa’s record goal scorer.

    “The committee will draw up a short list, deliberate (on) it before naming the suitable candidate in (the) coming days,” a SAFA statement said.

    Clive Barker, who guided South Africa to its sole Africa Cup of Nations win in 1996, and Neil Tovey, who captained the side that day, are also on the committee.

    “We want to have the process expedited as Bafana Bafana have a bumper 2017 season in which they need to compete and qualify on three fronts,’’ said SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan.

    “We need the coach to be in place when we play two friendly matches in March,’’ he added.

    South Africa have to participate in the qualifying competition for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Nations Cup.

    They will also try to reach next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN), the tournament for Africans who play in their own domestic league.

    South Africa’s coaching job became vacant in December when Ephraim “Shakes’’ Mashaba was sacked for “gross misconduct.’’

     

  • Siasia set to give out daughter’s hand  in marriage

    Siasia set to give out daughter’s hand  in marriage

     

    Former Super Eagles striker, U-20 and U-23 coach, Samson Siasia has put all

    logistics in place as he is set  give his daughter’s hand in marriage on Feb. 3rd 2017.

    The marriage ceremony will be conducted in Siasia Compound, Odoni Village, Sagbama LGA of

    Bayelsa State.

    In 2015, Siasia celebrated his 30th wedding anniversary with wife, Eunice.sia

  • Respect your elders in the game, Uwua tells Siasia

    Respect your elders in the game, Uwua tells Siasia

    FORMER Under 23 National team coach Godwin Uwua has taken a swipe at coach Samson Siasia for the uncomplimentary remarks he made against Adegboye Onigbinde and James Peters .

    Chief Uwua advised Samson Siasia to learn how to respect elders in the game saying Onigbinde and Peters are very senior football coaches and administrators as such deserved some respect from Siasia .

    Uwua, who is the Technical Adviser of Lobi Stars Football of Makurdi in a telephone interview with Nation sports described the outburst by Siasia against the duo of Onigbinde and Peters as ‘ embarrassing and shameful ” .

    “Siasia should stop talking to his seniors like if they are his boys  in camp . Onigbinde and Peters are like fathers and I’m very sad that a son will talk to a father in such manner on pages of New paper but if  he did not stop next time  I will take it personal and advised Siasia to shut up ” said angrily Uwua .

    On the CAF A License Course , the former Under 23 national team coach said Nigeria is far  behind because Cameroon and South Africa has taken the course more than six ( 6) times while the giant of Africa is doing so for the first saying the coaches should show gratitude to Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ) for bringing  the course to Nigeria .

  • Siasia drops Osimhen from Olympics squad

    Siasia drops Osimhen from Olympics squad

    Nigeria U-20 striker, Victor Osimhen, has been left out of a 35-man Olympics provisional squad submitted by Samson Siasia.

    “Osimhen is not on the provisional list,” an official told africanFootball.com.

    Osimhen, who was the goal king at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile,  was a last-minute replacement for Granada CF striker, Isaac Success, at last year’s African U-23 championship in Senegal.

    He also featured in March friendly against Olympics hosts Brazil.